Violent human rights abuses against all indigenous communities in the Omo Valley are becoming commonplace, as the rush to ‘develop’ gathers pace.

One Mursi man told Survival, ‘I am waiting to die because the government has taken my land…The government is collecting all the people in the Omo Valley to put in one place.’

Many tribespeople have been told that the government will take away their cattle (a vital part of their livelihood). They will then have little choice but to become workers on the plantations which will occupy their lands.

One Bodi told Survival, ‘The government is lying to us. It says to us, you have to move down the Omo Valley. We will give you everything to eat and drink.’

Survival’s Director Stephen Corry said today, ‘This leaked map reveals what the Ethiopian government has wanted to conceal – its intention to resettle indigenous tribes in the Lower Omo Valley. Taken together with the widespread reports of violent evictions and intimidation, it clearly shows Ethiopia’s end goal – and its refusal to respect the rights of anybody who stands in its way.’

Note to Editors: UNESCO is currently in Kenya for a week-long fact finding mission in and around Lake Turkana. The visit started on Wednesday 14th March, and follows UN concerns over the cultural and environmental impact of Ethiopia’s GIBEIII dam on the half a million people living downstream, particularly around Lake Turkana.